It seems as if every day brings unsettling events, whether they be bitterly partisan politics, uncertainty caused COVID-19, climate change-induced natural disasters, and navigating a strange new normal working and going to school online.

It can all be so overwhelming, and many of us feel unsure when things will get back to “normal.” This class will focus on finding our centers to navigate these uncertain times and consider the possibilities and opportunities inherent within the current situation.

The four, two-hour classes, held on Zoom, will include resources and information on self-care tools, as well as mindfulness and guided meditations, poetry, discussion, journaling, and a generous sprinkle of humor.

Instructor: Pam McFarland is a Silver Spring-based writer who also facilitates workshops using writing, poetry, and journaling as a tool for personal expression and well-being. She has an M.A. in Writing from Johns Hopkins University and teaches classes in literature and writing at Montgomery College’s Lifelong Learning Institute. She has been a journalist focused on environmental issues for more than a decade. For more information, visit her website www.pammcfarland.com.

Week One: Self-Care: How can we take care of ourselves?

Week Two: Courage and Considering Trust: How can we summon the courage to overcome our worries to take action/do what we want or need to do to make a difference or take care of ourselves?

Week Three: Going within: Using mindfulness and a sense of humor to reduce reactivity in ourselves and engage with people we encounter whom we might not agree with.

Week Four: Finding Strength in Community and Next Steps: What are our individual core values, and how can they help us remember what we want to focus on and to take action if desired? Where can we find our own “tribe” of people who “get” us and with whom we feel safe? What opportunities are provided to us by the present moment?